Monday, October 19, 2009

Have You Ever ?

Listened to the sound of rain falling upon a palm roof?


 

Heard the songs of howler monkeys in the jungle?


 
 

Seen a sky only God could paint?



Watched the majestic macaw soar overhead?


 
Fallen asleep to the sound of the river flowing past your window?



Swam beneath the spray of a waterfall that has no name?



 

Listened to the thunder roll across the jungle, and heard the voice of God?



Followed the tracks of a jaguar down to the creek,
hoping to catch a peek?


Walked under a moon so bright, it cast your shadow at mid night?





Stand under the jungle canopy, looking up...and see no sky?
 



Felt the sun beat upon you as you paddle down stream
in a dugout canoe?



Loved a child with dark, black, shiny eyes?




Swam in a current that nearly takes you away?
 

 

Eaten a sun ripened pineapple, straight from the garden?
 



 

Held the hand of a tribesman, and truly felt him to be your brother?
 



Smelled the smoke of a camp fire, hours before you arrive?





Been held in the embrace of an Indian grandmother, 
who "rocks" away your pain?






Eaten a fish that was swimming only moments ago?




 Had your face lovingly painted in onoto, and felt beautiful?



Had to leave it all, not knowing when , or if you would see them again?








I would like to thank  the Venezuela jungle missionaries who have contributed  these photos. All photos are original to Jungle Mom, Don Arnold, Mike Dawson, Pastor Von, Micah Jank, and Jonathan Reed.

23 comments:

Mah said...

So cuteee *-*

"Euu amei"

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Yes, I have. I know it must be so hard to leave. I'm praying for you, JungleMom! I hope that you feel peace and joy even in the pain of having to say good-bye.

Charles said...

Fantastic....

I haven't done them all ...YET but I'm over 1/2 way

Eric said...

Venezuela is a beautiful country. Thanks for sharing the pictures. I love them.

Kathy said...

How beautiful!!! No, I have not done very many of those things--yet! What blessings you have had! Well, do you think you will ever get to go and visit? I look forward to meeting those precious souls when we get to Heaven!

Jane said...

What lovely thoughts. I know you miss Venezuela. We haven't been in over a year and we miss it SO badly. A beautiful country and beautiful people.

Tana said...

How magical your journey has been!

Brenda said...

This post breaks my heart. It reminds me how much you must miss all of those wonderful people and the life that you had in Venezuela. I am glad you had all those years to grow so close to them and to take them the Gospel of Christ.

firepig said...

I never lived there but I have been close by several times and can imagine the feel of it.

Your experience is so profound that it touches the essence of life.It is so special, and so magical that it would be impossible to capture it all in words or pictures ; the kind of experience that has to be lived.

But in some form it will live on in your memories and sharing those memories adds to our lives.I hope someday you can return even if only visiting.

Thanks

ps the river is so beautiful with a special 'light'

CKHB said...

Some, but not all... beautiful photos!

Kris said...

it is hard to see the keyboard for all of the tears... it seems like another person and another world ago...God told me today to "stand in awe and sin not...and to be still. Selah" I am working on that :) oh how I would love to see my friends today!

Brooke said...

What a beautiful post, JM!

marion said...

Sad but real post today. No big words of comfort- but I can take you to a part of forest here that has wild Howler monkeys and you can hear them holler and grunt and maybe get a glimpse. Minisucle consolation.

Miss Footloose said...

You said it so beautifully with those photos, JM! The French have a saying, partir, c'est mourir un peu -- leaving is dying a little.

Good luck in your new home!

Mah said...

I loved your blog when I read it as
moments that we forget the city

Ps: my english is very bad, but we try!

Betty W said...

You have had some awe inspiring experiences! I thank you for sharing them with us!

Glenn B said...

Rita,

It is tough leaving a place and people you love behind. Leaving all those things you had fun doing and loved to do is always difficult too. You never really leave them though and they never really leave you - not a person like you nor those in your family. You all made your mark in the hearts of folks in that part of the world just like they and it made their marks in your hearts. You will not be forgotten there just as you will not forget.

Luckily you have a lot of pictures to refresh your memory. I used to have many pics of my early career in the Border Patrol and in my early days in the Customs Service but they all went down in the rubble of 6 WTC when 1 WTC collapsed onto it. I remember many things though, as if it was only yesterday.

All the best,
Glenn B

Gringo said...

Seeing those photos, your love for the jungle and its people shines through.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful tribute to those who are still there and to those who had to flee. It fills my heart to think of you and your husband´s love for the Venezuelan people.

God is using you in a great way today, too!

I absolutely loved the jaguar picture. Is is ok if I copied it for my desktop? Who took it so I can give credit?

Rita Loca said...

Mah. Glad you enjoyed them!

Rita Loca said...

Charles, there's still time!

Rita Loca said...

Eric, I thought you would like these pictures.

Anonymous said...

Jungle Mom,
Great post. I've actually done quite a few of those!

Listened to the sound of rain falling upon a palm roof?

√ in Jatun Sacha, Napo, Ecuador

Heard the songs of howler monkeys in the jungle?

√ several places in Ecuador

Seen a sky only God could paint?

√ All over the world

Swam beneath the spray of a waterfall that has no name?

√ Yep, it was unforgettable! (Ecuador, too, he he)

Walked under a moon so bright, it cast your shadow at mid night?

√ Jatun Sacha but the brightest ever was in Kansas, in a farmer's field at 5 a.m., walking with my dad and a friend

Stand under the jungle canopy, looking up...and see no sky?

√ Jatun Sacha

Felt the sun beat upon you as you paddle down stream
in a dugout canoe?

√ I wasn't doing the paddling though, thankfully!

Swam in a current that nearly takes you away?

√ Río Napo, someone had to swim out and pull me in before I got swept away, haha!

Eaten a fish that was swimming only moments ago?

√ in Ecuador

It was a beautiful post, very heartfelt!